Daily Current Affairs - December 8 2013

CURRENT AFFAIRS

December 8, 2013

International AFFAIRS

1. U.S. automatically lost voting rights at UNESCO, after missing a crucial deadline to repay its debt to the world’s cultural agency. The U.S. hasn’t paid its dues to the Paris-based U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in protest over the decision by world governments to make Palestine a UNESCO member in 2011. Israel suspended its dues at the same time.

2. Jordan will replace Saudi Arabia on the Security Council for a two-year term starting in January after the Saudis’ unprecedented rejection of the seat hours after they were elected, a UN diplomat has said. Earlier this week, Jordan dropped its bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, leaving Saudi Arabia a clear path in the now uncontested election next Tuesday.

3. India’s second international-standard multi-use Integrated Check Post (ICP) and the first along the Bangladesh border will be opened to people at Akhaurah in Tripura on November 17. The first such ICP was inaugurated in Attari in Punjab along the Pakistan border by then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in April last year.

4. Super Typhoon “Haiyan” batters central Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan is battering the central Philippines with sustained winds of 314 kilometres an hour.

5. Ethiopia’s parliament elected Mulatu Teshome to be the country’s new president on Monday, for a six-year term in a largely symbolic and ceremonial post.

6. Venezuela’s Miss Alyz Henrich wins Miss Earth’ 2013

·         Miss Sobhita Dhulipala from India won 2 sub titles including Miss Eco Beauty and Miss Photogenic 

  

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

7. The Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on 8 October 2013. It is the 81st anniversary of the Indian Air Force. On this day, various celebrations are organised across the country along with parades at the airbases all over India. The Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire. Therefore, every year 8 October is celebrated as the Indian Air Force Day.

8. The Theme of 33rd edition of the India International Trade Fair is inclusive growth. The fair will begin from 14th of this month and continue till 27th at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. This year 250 exhibitors from 25 countries are participating out of 6000 exhibitors from India and overseas. The fair will be inaugurated by the President, Pranab Mukherjee.

9. The third largest public sector lender by branches Central Bank of India opened a representative office in Hong Kong.

10. Martha Dodray, a polio worker from bihar who is “performing heroic work in protecting children from this crippling disease” has been honoured with a prestigious UN Foundation award for her work in protecting children from the disease. Dodray, who hails from Darbhanga, said she was delighted and felt honoured to receive the award at such a global stage.

11. The Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled India’s Nuclear Energy Programme: Future Plans, Prospects and Concerns at a function organized by Indian National Science Academy (INSA) on 7 November 2013. The book is edited by Prof. R. Rajaraman.

12. Agni-1 missile test fired from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. India on Friday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Agni-I ballistic missile with a strike range of 700 km from a test range off Odisha coast as part of a user trial by the Army. The surface-to-surface, single-stage missile, powered by solid propellants, was test-fired from a mobile launcher at 09.33 hrs from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from Balasore.

13. The Union Cabinet today approved official amendments to the UIDAI Bill. This will give statutory status to UIDAI which is responsible for issuing the Aadhar number. Besides giving statutory status to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Bill seeks to provide legal backing to Aadhaar, which is used to disburse subsidies.

14. Supreme Court has directed Central and the state governments to provide 3 percent jobs to the disabled. In its landmark order the apex court has asked the centre and states to implement reservation for disabled within three months in all government departments, companies and institutions.

15. Finance Minister P Chidambaram will leave for the US on Tuesday to attend the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank. The world leaders will deliberate on prevailing uncertainty in global economy. Discussions will also focus on the much-awaited quota reforms that will benefit emerging economies including India. Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan and Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram, among others, will also be attending the annual meetings. The visit comes against the backdrop of external sector pressure with the country’s foreign exchange reserves dipping by over 15 billion dollars since March 2013 to 276 billion dollars as on September 27.

16. Canara Bank and Apollo Munich Health Insurance (AMHI) have entered into a bancassurance tie-up. This is the first such tie-up for the insurance company in its six years of existence. Bancassurance is distribution of insurance products through a bank’s network.

17. Karan Thapar, television journalist chosen for the International Press Institute (IPI) – India award for excellence in journalism 2013 on 8 October 2013 for his interviews on the Devil’s Advocate programme on CNN IBN. He was selected by a distinguished jury of editors and publishers headed by the former Chief Justice of India, A. S. Anand.

18. Union HRD Minister M.M. Pallam Raju, who has tendered his resignation over the Telangana issue, on Tuesday skipped the Union Cabinet meeting.

SPORTS

19. The International Hockey Federation, FIH has selected India to host the men’s World Cup, which is planned for December 2018. England has been selected as hosts of the 2018 women’s World Cup.

20. India defeated West Indies to win Kolkata Test by an innings and 51 runs. India are now 1-0 ahead in the Two test match series. A discplined bowling from Mohammad Shami as he took 5 for 47 in the second innings bowled the West Indian for 168 runs only. This match was the penultimate test match for Sachin Tendulkar.

21. The International Cricket Council has announced that the final stages of the ICC World Twenty 20 Qualifier 2013 will be held at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

22. Indian cyclist Deborah on 7 October 2013 won a gold medal in the women’s junior individual sprint at Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Track Asia Cup in Thailand. Teen cyclist Deborah from Andaman Nicobar Island had earlier grabbed gold in 500m Time Trial event.

QUIZ

1. Former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela dies at the age of 95 on 5th December 2013. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. When was he born?

[A] 18 July 1918

[B] 18 July 1919

[C] 18 July 1920

[D] 18 July 1921

2. On 7 December 2013, who was crowned with the pageant of Miss Earth 2013 at the Versailles Palace, Philippines?

[A] Tereza Fajksova

[B] Catharina Choi

[C] Punika Kulsoontornrut

[D] Alyz Henrich

3. Which day was observed across India on 7 December 2013?

[A] Air Force Day

[B] Armed Forces Flag Day

[C] Naval Day

[D] Army Day

4. Ali Osman Taha, the Vice President of which country resigned to pave way for the new Government on 7th Dec 2013?

[A] Thailand

[B] South Africa

[C] Sudan

[D] Maldeevs

5. What is the trade agreement resulting from the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Bali, Indonesia on 3–7 December 2013 called?

[A] WTO Package

[B] Trade Package

[C] Bali Package

[D] Developing Trade Package

Answers:

1. [A]

2. [D]

3. [B]

4. [C]

5. [C]